Housing starts in Canada fell 6.1% from the previous month to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 261.4 thousand in May 2026, well above market forcasts of 255.1 thousand units. Urban housing starts in centers with populations over 10,000 people fell to 247 thousand. In turn, rural starts were estimated to increase to 14,357 units. By major cities, the largest increase was recorded in Montreal at 18% year-on-year, with decreases in Vancouver (-7%) and Toronto (-12%). Meanwhile, the six-month moving average of housing starts, which smooths monthly volatility, remained mostly flat, increasing 0.5% to 258 thousand units. source: Canada Mortgage And Housing Corporation

Housing Starts in Canada decreased to 261.40 Thousand units in May from 278.40 Thousand units in April of 2026. Housing Starts in Canada averaged 194.48 Thousand units from 1977 until 2026, reaching an all time high of 321.28 Thousand units in March of 2021 and a record low of 90.70 Thousand units in August of 1982. This page provides the latest reported value for - Canada Housing Starts - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news. Canada Housing Starts - data, historical chart, forecasts and calendar of releases - was last updated on June of 2026.

Housing Starts in Canada decreased to 261.40 Thousand units in May from 278.40 Thousand units in April of 2026. Housing Starts in Canada is expected to be 220.00 Thousand units by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. In the long-term, the Canada Housing Starts is projected to trend around 235.00 Thousand units in 2027 and 200.00 Thousand units in 2028, according to our econometric models.



Calendar GMT Reference Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2026-05-15 12:15 PM
Housing Starts
Apr 279.3K 239.7K 240.0K 230.0K
2026-06-15 12:15 PM
Housing Starts
May 261.4K 278.4K 255.1K 260.0K
2026-07-16 12:15 PM
Housing Starts
Jun 261.4K 220.0K


Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Average House Prices 657700.00 658300.00 CAD May 2026
Building Permits 12491125.00 13514761.00 CAD Thousand Apr 2026
Building Permits MoM -7.60 10.60 percent Apr 2026
Home Ownership Rate 66.70 69.30 percent Dec 2023
Home Sales 37862.00 35877.00 units May 2026
New Housing Price Index MoM -0.30 -0.40 percent May 2026
New Housing Price Index YoY -2.40 -2.30 percent May 2026
Housing Index 120.70 121.10 points May 2026
Housing Starts 261.40 278.40 Thousand units May 2026
Price to Rent Ratio 122.80 124.71 Mar 2026
Residential Property Prices -3.38 -3.19 Percent Dec 2025


Canada Housing Starts
In Canada, a housing start is defined as the beginning of construction work on the building where the dwelling unit will be located. This can be described in 2 ways: usually, the stage when the concrete has been poured for the whole of the footing around the structure; or an equivalent stage where a basement will not be part of the structure.
Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
261.40 278.40 321.28 90.70 1977 - 2026 Thousand units Monthly
Volume, SA

News Stream
Canada Housing Starts Fall 6.1% in May
Housing starts in Canada fell 6.1% from the previous month to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 261.4 thousand in May 2026, well above market forcasts of 255.1 thousand units. Urban housing starts in centers with populations over 10,000 people fell to 247 thousand. In turn, rural starts were estimated to increase to 14,357 units. By major cities, the largest increase was recorded in Montreal at 18% year-on-year, with decreases in Vancouver (-7%) and Toronto (-12%). Meanwhile, the six-month moving average of housing starts, which smooths monthly volatility, remained mostly flat, increasing 0.5% to 258 thousand units.
2026-06-15
Canada Housing Starts Hit Four-Month High
Housing starts in Canada jumped 17% to an annualized 279,300 units in April 2026 from the previous month, well above market forecasts of 240,000 units. The reading marked the highest level of housing starts in four months, pointing to renewed strength in residential construction activity. Rural starts were estimated at 13,694 units. Meanwhile, the six-month moving average of housing starts, which smooths monthly volatility, rose 3.2% to 256,777 units.
2026-05-15
Canada Housing Starts Unexpectedly Drop to 5-Month Low
Housing starts in Canada fell by 6% from the previous month to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 235.9 thousand in March of 2026, contrasting with market expectations that it would rise further to 255 thousand. It was the lowest rate in five months. Starts in urban centers fell to 224 thousand, also the lowest in five months, while rural starts fell to a rate of 11.8 thousand units, the lowest in over one year.
2026-04-17